Driving-axle for automobiles.



PATENTED OCT. 30, 1906.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 23. 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT oirrron.

CLARENCE U. HAYNES, OF ROME, NEWYORK.

DRIVING-AXLE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Application filed October 23,1905- Serial No. 283,898-

Patented Oct. 30, 1906.

. isms for motor-vehicles, and has for its object the production of a device in which an undivided sup iorting rear axle may be used the ends of w ich are provided w1th differential mechanism within the hubs of the driving- Wheels, whereby said wheels may be driven in unison in either direction when the vehicle is moving ahead or to the rear or independently of each other when the vehicle is making a turn.

3 The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, which will be readily understood by reference to the description of the drawings and to the claims to be hereinafter given.

Of the drawings, Figure 1 represents a sec tional plan of a rear driving-axle for a motorvehicle, showin the hubs of the drivingwheel applied thereto. Fig. 2 represents a similar section of one end of said axle drawn s to an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 represents a section 11118 3 3 on F1 2 lboking in the direction 6 the arrow, and Fig. 4 represents a sec tion' on line 4 4 on Fig. 2 looking in the direc tion of the arrow.

Similar characters designate like arts throughout the several figures of the rawin s.

. in the drawings, 10 re resents the rear drivirg-axle of a motor-v0 lclo, to which is socured a bevel-gear 11,11'1t3Sl1111g with a bevelpinion 12, securcd to a revolublc shaft 13, mounted ina suitable bearing 14. The shaft 13 is drivemby the motor (not shown) in any ordinary manner. The axle 10 is mounted in a casing 15, provided at either end with bearings 16 for said axle. Collars or shoulders 17 are provided upon said axle to limit its movement in either direction, said shoulders or collars 17 hearing against the inner faces of the bearings 16. Outside of each of the bearings 16 the axle is provided with an extension 18, having a male thread 19 thereon. The threads 19 of the extension 18 extend around the same in opposite directions, as indicated cbne-nuts 20 21, provided with female threads cooperating with the thread 19. A plurality of adjusting members 22 are threaded to the cone-nut 20 and extend into the cone nut 21, causing the two nuts torotate togather and maintain the same axialrelation The outer end of the extoward each other. tension 18 is rovided with a threaded po1 tion 23, on which is screwed a bearing-plate 24, held in position by the washer 25, nut 26, and pin 27.

The casing 15 has likewise threaded thereto a bearing-plate 28. These bearing-plates 24 28 are provided with rooves which form a bearing-surface for a p urality of antifriction members or balls 29, supporting the hub 30 of the driving-wheel. It is obvious that the hub 30 will freely turn u on the balls 29.

The hub 30 is provided wit interior conesurfaces 31 32, with which the outer surfaces of the conc-nuts 2O 21 are ada ted to cooperate when desired. Threads to the casing 15 is a friction-plate 33, against which a sec-- end friction-plate 34 is held by means of the springs 35, mounted in sockets 36 in the cone nut 21.

The plate 34 is provided with a plurality of l members or extensions 37 entern'ig recesses '38 in said nut 21 and causing the plate 34 and stances from. inter-f axle 10 is rotated by the driving-gears11 12;

to move the vehicle ahead the threads 19 on the extensions 18 being right and left handed will act u on the ,conemuts 21 to move them from cac 1 other, bringing their outer surfaces into engagement with the bearingsurfaces 32 of the hubs 30, thereby serving as a clutch to cause the wheels, of which these hubs form a part to drive the vehicle ahead. I

When the driving-gears 11 12 cause the axle 10 to rotate in the opposite direction, the threads 19 will act upon the cone-nuts 20 to move said nuts toward each other to clutch the hub 30, and thereby cause the wheels, of which said hubs form a art, to rospeed, while the outside wheel necessarily runs fasterthan the inside wheel, and in so doing the outside wheel turning on the axle 10 causes the cone-clutch to be operated upon by the threads 19 to move it from contact with the bearing-surface 31, thereby permitting said outer wheel to turn freely on the antifriction members 29.

In motor-vehicles provided with the usual diiferential gearing when making turns the outer wheel usually maintainsits normal speed, while the inner Wheel is driven at a lesser speed, causing the driving to be done by the wheel'having the least work -to do. This oftentimes causes skidding and is liable to injure the driving mechanism and also the wheel-tires. By means of the presentinvention these objections are entirely obviated.

With the foregoing description it is believed the operation of the invention will be thoroughlyunderstood.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination with a revoluble axle provided with a right external thread at one end and a left external thread at the other end, of two cone-sha ed clutch nrembers threaded to each en and a wheel-hub mounted freely upon each end of said le and adapted to be engaged by either one oi said clutch members to drive the same.

2. The combination with a revoluble axle provided at bne end with a right external thread and at'the other end with a left external thread, of two cone-shaped clutch members threaded to each end, and awheclhub mounted freely upon each end of said axle and provided with internal clutch-surfaces in the form of two cones converging to- Ward each other which are adapted to be engaged by one of said clutch members to drive the same.

3. The combination with a revoluble axle provided with a right external thread at one end and a left external thread at the other end, of cone clutch members threaded thereon, antifriction members preventing the ac cidental rotation of said clutch members, and a wheel-hub on either end of said. axle provided with. clutch-surfaces adapted to be engaged by said clutch members to rotate said hub. p

4. The combination with a revolublc axle provided with a right external thread at one end and a left external thread at the other end, of cone clutch members threaded thereon, a stationary bearing-surhrcc, a friction member revoluble with said clutch members,

and a spring interposed between said clutch (3. The combinz'rtion with a rovoluble axle provided with a right external thread at one end and a left external thread at the other end, of two cone clutch members threaded to each end, means extending from one clutch member into its mate, and a wheel-hub mounted freely upon each end of said axle and provided with internal clutch-surfaces in the form of two opposed cones adapted to be engaged by one ol said clutch members to drive the same.

7. The combination with a revolublc axle provided with a right external thread at one end and a left external thread at the other end, of two cone clutch members threaded to each end, adjustable means extending from one clutch member into its mate limiting the movement of said members toward each other, and a wheel-hub mounted freely upon each end of said axle and provided with internal clutch-surfaces in the form of two opposed cones adapted to be engaged by one oi said clutch members to drive the same.

Signed by me at Rome, New York, this 20th day of October, 1905.

CLARENCE U. HAYNESv Witnesses:

P. It. llueems, M. E JAvnLLm. 

